Oklahoma governor saved the life of convicted murderer Julius Jones
Jones, 41, was scheduled to be executed by injection in Oklahoma at 4 p.m. local time on Thursday. His case has received national attention in the United States, including Kim Kardashian’s involvement.
The last court in Oklahoma had recommended last week commutation of the sentence to life imprisonment.
Jones was sentenced to death for the 1999 murder of businessman Paul Howell after a car hijacking.
He always claimed his innocence and claimed that his co-defendants were responsible for the murder. However, prosecutors said the evidence against Jones was overwhelming and that the death penalty should be supported. Jones’ attorneys, among other things, submitted a letter from an inmate in an Arkansas prison stating that Christopher Jordan, who was with Jones when Howell was murdered, had confessed to the murders against him.
Just hours before the execution was carried out, Governor Kevin Stitt decided to commute the sentence to life imprisonment, he wrote. AP.
– After carefully reviewing and evaluating the materials from all sides, I decided to transfer the sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of release.
Jones supporters applaud outside the Oklahoma State Capitol.
– Today we can celebrate. Reverend Keith Gossel says it’s a day to get to know everyone who met and fought for Julius.
His mother is also satisfied with the governor’s decision.
“For over 20 years I have been haunted by the thought of seeing my son die in the execution chamber for committing murder while at home with his family,” says mother Madeline Davis-Jones.
She believes that her son served his sentence without any reason for it, and promised to fight for his acquittal.
Ten people have reportedly been executed so far this year in the US deathpenaltyinfo.org. This is the same number as last year.
Oklahoma has set a date for six more executions, one per month from October to March.
yesterday Mississippi carried out its first execution Since 2012.
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